The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-07-15
CHAPTER Xxx.
JEREMY's IDEA OF A SHAKING


Two months or so after Ernest's flight there
came a letter from him to Mr.. Cardus in
answer to the one sent by his uncle He
thanked his uncle warmly for his kindness,
and more especially for not joining in the hue
and cry against him. As regards money, he
hoped to be able to make living for himself,
but if he wanted any he would draw. The
letter, which was Short ended thus:
"Thank Doll and Jeremy for their letters l
would answer them, but | am too down on
my luck to write much; writing stirs up SO
many painful memories, and snakes me think
OF all the dear folks at home more than is
good for me. The fact is, my dear uncle,
what between one thing and another | never
was so miserable in my life, and as for loneli-
ness | never knew what it meant before. Some
times l wish that my cousin had hit me
instead of my hitting him, and that I was
dead and buried clean out of the way.
Aston, who was my second in that unhappy
affair, and with whom am going up country
shooting, has been most kind to me, and has
introduced me to a good many people here.
They are very hospitable; everybody is hos
pitable in colony; but somehow hundred
new faces cannot make up for one old one,
and should think old Atterleigh cheerful
companion beside the best of them. What is
more, feel myself an impostor intruding
myself on them under an assumed name.
Good by, my dear uncle 1t would be difficult
for me to explain how grateful am for your
goodness to me. Love to dear Doll and
Jeremy. Ever your aifectionate nephew,
Sc K"
All tho party at Dums Ness were much
touched by this letter, more especially Doro-
thy, who could not bear to think of Ernest all
alone out there in that strange, far off land
Her tender little heart grew all alive with
love and sorrow she lay awake at night
and thought of him travelling over the great
African plains She got all the books that
were TO he had about South Africa and read
them, so that she might be the better able to
follow his lie in her thoughts. One day
when Florence came to see her she read her
part of Ernest's letter, and when she had fin
ished was astonshed to see a tear in her yIs-
tors keen eyes She liked Florence the bet
ter for that tear. Could she have seen the con-
fllct that was raging in the fierce heart of the
woman before her she would have started
from her as though she had been a poisonous
snake. The letter touched Florence-touched
her to the quick. The tale of Ernest's loneli.
ness almost overcaine her resolution, for she
alone knew why he was so utterly lonely and
what it was that crushed him Had Ernest
wouh then and there have thrown up her
cruel game, but he was not alone concerned.
There was her sister, who had robbed her of
her lover-her sister, whose loveliness was a
standing aifront to her as her sweetness was
standing reproach. She was sorry for
Ernest, and would have been glad to make
him happier, but as that could only be done
by foregoing her revenge upon her sister,
Ernest must continue 10 suffer, And after
all why should he not suffer, she argued.
Did not she suiferl
When Florence got home she told Eva
about the letter from her lover, but she said
nothing of his evident distress. He was max
ing friends, he expected great pleasure from
his shooting-altogether he was getting ON
well.
Eva listened, hardened her heart and went
out district visiting with Mr. Powden.
Time went on, and no letters came from
Ernest One month, two months, six months
passed, and there was no intelligence of him.
Dorothy grow very anxious, and so did Mr..
Qardus, but they did not speak of the matter
much, except to remark that the reason, no
doubt, was that no was away on his shooting
excursion,
Jeremy also, in his slow way, grew intensely
preoccuped with the fact that they never
heard from Ernest now, and that his life was
consequently blank. He sat upon the stool
in his uncles outer office and made pret.nse
to copy deeds and drafts, but in reality occu-
pied his time in assiduously polishing his
nails and thinking. As for the deeds and
drafts he gave them to his grandfather TO
copy.
ut kept the old gentleman employed" he
would explain to Dorothy, "and from indulg-
ing in bad thoughts about the devil.n
But it was one night out duck shooting
that his great inspiration came. 1t was
bitter night, night on which no sane crea,
ture except Jeremy would ever have dreamed
of going to shoot ducks or ANYTHING else.
The marshes We're partially Frozen and a
fierce east wind was blowing across them;
but utterly regardless of the cold, there sat
Jeremy under the lee of dixie bank, listen
ing for the sound of the ducks wings as thew
passed to their feeding grounds, and occa.